The 6%+ Dividends To Buy As AI Surges And Layoffs Arrive

Core Insights - The trend of "growth-without-hiring" is becoming increasingly evident as companies leverage AI to enhance profitability while reducing workforce size [2][3][4] - Despite layoffs, the economy is showing resilience, with a reported 3.8% annualized growth in the third quarter [4] - Companies like Accenture are restructuring to focus on AI, resulting in significant layoffs but also increased profits [5] Group 1: Economic Indicators - The September ADP payroll report indicated a reduction of 32,000 jobs, with previous figures revised to show a loss of 3,000 jobs in August [3] - The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow indicator suggests a robust economic growth rate of 3.8% for the third quarter [4] Group 2: Company Performance - Accenture laid off over 11,000 employees in the last three months, yet reported a 7% revenue increase in its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter [5] - For fiscal 2026, Accenture anticipates a revenue boost of 2% to 5% and a 5% to 8% increase in adjusted EPS [5] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - The article highlights closed-end funds (CEFs) as a means to capitalize on the "growth-without-hiring" trend, offering average dividends around 8% [6] - The NASDAQ 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund (QQQX) provides an 8.1% dividend by selling call options on its portfolio [9] - The Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund (KYN) focuses on pipeline operators benefiting from AI's energy demands, offering a 7.5% dividend [15] - The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) targets finance stocks integrating AI, yielding 6.2% and outperforming the S&P 500 [17]